Question about breathing

[josh_k]

I'm new to rowing and am really enjoying it.

What I'm wondering is what is teh proper way to breath during the exercise. Should you:
1 - be breathing out when you're pulling OR
2 - be breathing our when you're returning

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Nosmo]

This has been discussed several times before. Do a search.
Personally I just do what feels normal and not worry about it, but it is worth reading what other say.

[josh_k]

OK thanks. I did search before posting (and just did again) and didn't find anything FYI.

[zen cohen]

What I'm wondering is what is teh proper way to breath during the exercise. Should you:
1 - be breathing out when you're pulling OR
2 - be breathing our when you're returning.

My pulmonologist told me to breathe out on exertion. I had a lung spontaneously collapse a few months ago and he thinks that my not breathing properly while lifting heavy weights (not breathing out on exertion; sometimes holding breath instead) could have contributed to this. As I understand it breathing out on exertion keeps pressure from building up in the lungs. This may not be a big deal for others but I'm very conscious of my breathing now to avoid a relapse.

[josh_k]

Wow. That's serious - I do hope you're back to as full form as you can be post-collapsed lung.

Thanks for the advice, sounds solid (especially coming from a pulmonologist!)

I'll definitely be more conscious of breath cycles going forward.

[johnlvs2run]

As I understand it breathing out on exertion keeps pressure from building up in the lungs. This may not be a big deal for others but I'm very conscious of my breathing now to avoid a relapse.

Good point. I'm glad you've recovered.

Were there any particular things you did to reverse the collapse?

[iain]

Please see article on importance of breathing properly to rowing:

http://www.fletchersportscience.co.uk/s ... 2a555292c8

Threads on breathing from UK site: http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... 2A#p436847
http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... 2A#p427718

I can't find the reference, but I remember an extensive thread on this i will try and summarise from memory. breathing is a compromise between the benefits of inflated lungs at the catch and restricted lung capacity due to the position at the catch. There were 5 breathing rhythms discussed. These included the 2 you mentioned (with 1 breath per stroke). In addition, at higher intensities the majority of people increased to more breaths per stroke (transition varied from "any hard distance to only for 1k+). These all involved a whole breath during the recovery, the commonest was also breathing out during the drive, some doing this on a partial breath, while at least one respondant breathed in on the drive. Many people commented that maintaining a consistent breathing pattern in rhythm with their stroke was essential to a consistent stroke. I reckon on 2-3S/500m involuntary drop in pace if I lose my breathing rythm (usually deteriorating into panting, often from leaving it too late to start breathing twice per stroke). Finally, I managed to find a sixth pattern at the end of a recent 10k PB. I breathed 3 times per stroke (including breathing out during the drive and 2 breaths on the recovery). I managed this for >700m and it definitely allowed me to up my pace at the time.

Sorry for the long post. Hope some of this is useful.

Iain